Sentence credits; drug-related felonies. (HB723)
Introduced By
Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
☐ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Sentence credits; drug-related felonies. Allows a maximum of seven and one-half sentence credits to be earned for each 30 days served on sentence for drug-related felonies. All other felony sentences will continue to earn sentence credits at a maximum of four and one-half days for each 30 days served. The bill also allows all felons to earn an additional two and one-half sentence credits for each 30 days served for participating in programs intended to assist in rehabilitation that are taken in addition to the mandatory programs in which they are already required to participate. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/07/2014 | Committee |
01/07/2014 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/14 14103419D |
01/07/2014 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
01/10/2014 | Assigned Courts sub: Criminal |
01/23/2014 | Impact statement from DPB (HB723) |
01/31/2014 | Subcommittee recommends laying on the table |
02/12/2014 | Left in Courts of Justice |
Comments
It would be a great help to families and nonviolent inmates if this bill would get passed.
It would be even better for the State Budget!!! Without the extra programs and earned credits, the minimum estimated savings is $3.5 million according to the fiscal impact
That doesn't include the additional taxes and spending in local communities from those released.
It would be even better for the State Budget!!! Without the extra programs and earned credits, the minimum estimated savings is $3.5 million according to the fiscal impact
That doesn't include the additional taxes and spending in local communities from those released. Or, maybe families off welfare when the person comes home and starts working again!!!
Bring them home, put them to work, and stop wasting my tax money!!!
I'm so sick of seeing harsher and more restrictive additions to already harsh sentences put on people who don't deserve to be incarcerated in the first place. It's time that that Commonwealth try a different approach- giving people a chance to better their lives while they still have time to do so.
For example, what's the point of sentencing an already troubled 30 year old to 20 years in jail, releasing them when they're 50 and expecting them to become model citizens? These expectations come despite countless restrictions on welfare benefits, job eligibility, and educational access. This "tough on crime" mentality is wrong. Aren't the vast majority of elected officials Christians? What's more Christian- ruining someone's life over poor choices or doing all you can to give them a chance to succeed?
Vote yes on this bill.